Protecting device



July l4, 1931.

S. B. WHlTTlER PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1929 MWmM Patented July 14, 1931,

UNITED STATES SIDNEY BOYDEN WHITTIER, OF GHATTAHOOCHEE, GEORGIA PROTECTING DEVICE Application filed. November 27, 1929. Serial No. 410,162.

This invention relates to a device which is adapted to be applied to each arm of a child toprevent bending the arms suiiiciently to enable the child to put its fingers or other object into its mouth. The invention provides a device of this kind which is simple and light in construction and easily cleaned and sterilized and which does not closely cover the arms but is open in construction, thus permitting free access of air and the actinic rays of the sun to the arms of the child, the arrangement at the same time allowing sufficient flexibility of the elbows to afford comfort and reasonable freedom of motion.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof:

Figure 1 illustrates the device applied to the arm of a child;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device; and

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

As will be seen from the drawings, the device comprises three connected loops or rings 2 10, 11 and 12, which are preferably made substantially circular and which are arranged substantialy parallel and in spaced relation.

The ring 10 is adapted to surround the arm A of the child substantially at the wrist, the ring 11 substantially at the elbow, and the ring 12 between the elbow and shoulder. The

ring 11 is preferably made slightly larger than the ring 10 and the ring 12 slightly larger than the ring 11, so as to accommodate the different parts of the childs arm. The rings 10 and 11 are connected by the spacing member 13 and the rings 11 and 12 by a similar member 14.. Preferably the rings 10, 11 and 12 and the members 13 and 14 are formed 4 from a single piece of wire of the desired stiffness by merely bending the same to form the various parts as shown. It will be understood that the loops 10, 11 and 12 are so arranged that the plane of each of said loops 4 is substantially at right angles to the longitudinal length of the wire or to the spacing members 13 and 14. The wire used should be as light as possible and at the same time stiif enough to prevent the child from bending its elbow sufiiciently to get its hand to its mouth. Adjacent the ring 10, the device is preferably provided with a bend or eye 15 also preferably formed by bending the end of the wire from which the device is made, such eye being arranged adjacent the member 13. The eye 15 is intended to receive a fastening member in the form of a piece of ribbon or tape 16 which is to be tied around the wrist of the child and which serves to hold the device in proper position on the childs arm.

With a device of this kind applied to each arm, the child will not be able to bend its arms at the elbows sufficiently to carry its hands to its mouth, but at the same time a certain amount of movement of the arms is permitted, and, as before noted, the construction of the device is such that it can be made very light and open, thus permitting free access of air and sunlight to the arms of the child.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: I

1. A device for use on the arm of a child to prevent bending thereof comprising, in combination, a continuous piece of wire having each of the ends thereof bent to form a ring, one of said rings adapted to loosely encircle the wrist and the other of said rings adapted to loosely encircle a portion of the upper arm, another ring formed at an intermediate point along said wire and adapted to loosely encircle the arm substantially at the elbow, said rings being in spaced alignment with each other, straight ring connecting portions formed in said wire between said rings and extending in a direction parallel to the axis thereof; and a separate means for securing said wire to the arm.

2. A device for use on the arm of a child to prevent bending thereof sufiiciently to permit the insertion of the fingers into the mouth comprising, in combination, a continuous piece of wire having the ends and an intermediate portion each bent to form a separate ring, said rings adapted to encircle the arm at spaced intervals from the wrist to a point above the elbow, straight ring connecting portions formed in said wire between said rings and a return bent portion of one end of the wire forming a loop which is adapted to extend in it direction parallel to one of said straight connecting portions; and aseparately formed band adapted to pass through said loop and to be secured to a portion of the arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

SIDNEY BOYDEN WHITTIER. 

